PROVIDING A FESTIVAL OF MINI FOOTBALL EVERY WEEK
The KicKStart Sunday Youth Football League is organised by KicKStart Academy, which
is in the ownership of Malc Jones and Elaine Pritchard. The League is governed in
accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management
Committee comprised of the Officers and at least four (4) other members who are
elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
KicKStart Academy was originally formed as a Coaching School back in 1988 operating
at Quarrydale School, to provide 'Football Coaching in the Community', as a directive
from the late, great, Brian Clough, to Malc when he was working for him as a Youth
Academy Coach at Nottingham Forest.
The KicKStart Sunday Youth Football League was formed in 2002 (first known as the McDonald’s
Friendly Sunday Mini Soccer League, in recognition of their sponsorship and then later on as
the KicKStart Sunday Mini Soccer League). It remains
one of the fastest growing Soccer League’s in Nottinghamshire, having started
with 6 teams (80 boys and girls) back then to currently 87 teams (1000 boys and
girls).
The League is affiliated to the Nottinghamshire Football Association and currently
holds two seats on the FA Council represented by the League Chairman and the League Secretary.
The League is unique. All games are played at the same venue every week either at
Debdale Park in Mansfield Woodhouse, The Bentinck in Kirkby in Ashfield or at Sutton Lawn on the new 3G facility. The idea was
born out of many years of experience and involvement in both the professional game
and in a voluntary capacity with local youth football.
It was recognised that because 14 players are allowed to register in the game of Mini
Soccer but only 7 can play at any one time, there must be alot of boys and girls
not getting a fair chance to play the game; which became more and more apparent
by the amount of children we witnessed standing on touchlines as substitutes. We
had also experienced over the years that there is a lot of hard work and administration
involved with running a team, so we wanted to tackle these issues to allow more
young people to play football and give more adults the chance to become involved
by minimising administration.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
All our venues have a Site Manager and Administrator available to support your needs
all day. We encourage you to be pro-active and call upon this support whenever you
feel it necessary. You're not alone playing in the KicKStart League. If you feel
you need someone present on your touchline for any reason, you are encouraged to
call at Football Reception and ask for assistance and/or advice, there and then,
for anything you think may become cause for complaint later. It makes our life much
easier too.
The League takes out all the hard work and provides you with:
- A Mini Pitch/3/4 sized Pitch
- Mini Soccer Goals/3/4 sized Goals
- Pre-printed Match Cards (complete with all your players names)
- Your Referee
- End of Season Trophy for every player (presented by a Sports Personality)
There is no ringing round arranging your next game or trying to get a Referee, putting
your nets up or even sweeping out the changing rooms. We do all this for you.
You will be required to attend one League meeting and one Induction Meeting a year
only, unless the need arises for an EGM or an SGM.
You will not have to ring in your result or post off a match report. This is all
dealt with on the day.
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
Our presentations are special, because we believe that all children playing in our
League deserve no less. Every child playing mini-soccer is promised a trophy, not just winners and runners
up, all presented by a Sports Personality. These events are not to be missed (ask
anyone who has attended). We held eight separate presentations again last year at
the Festival Hall, Kirkby in Ashfield.
Personalities to date have included, Nigel Clough (Life President of the League),
Kristian Commons (President), Steve Chettle (Vice President), Des Walker, Steve
Hodge, Dave Bentley, Danny Holmes, Kenny Burns, John McGovern, Saul Deaney,
Dean Leacock and Bobby Hassell.
We aim to make every event Centre Stage.
DEVELOPMENT
The League has developed greatly over 8 years. Because of the increase in membership
KicKStart has formed into a quality competition, allowing teams to contend for a
League Championship Trophy, a Knock Out Cup, a KSA Vase for 2nd Division teams in the
Under 9's, 10's, 11's and 12's only and also a Premier League Cup and Challenge
Cup in the Under 9's, 10's and 11's. Our Knock Out Cup finals were played at Pride Park,
Derby County FC, for the first time last season, courtesy of Nigel Clough and arranged by
Sarah Toon. The KSA Vase finals (new for last season) were played at Field Mill, home of
The Stags by kind permission of the 3 Directors. Both venues with be available next year.
All our Staff hold an Enhanced CRB Disclosure approved by the FA Media Group, and
the League Chairman, League Secretary and League Welfare Officer hold a current
Child Protection and Best Practice Certificate and Welfare Officer Workshop Certificate
and have all attended the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer workshops.
PROFILE OF THE LEAGUE CHAIRMAN
The Chairman of the League, first became involved in youth football back in 1975
when he joined Sutton Town FC to work with the under 16’s youth side at the same
time as helping to coach the Sutton Primary School District Team.
In 1980 he became the Assistant Manager of Teversal Colts in partnership with the
very well respected Sam Slack (a former League Secretary for the then Mansfield
Youth League), before eventually taking over as Manager supported by Sam.
Over the next three seasons, Teversal Colts won every honour possible playing in
the Mansfield Youth League.
Malc started his professional career as a part timer (working 8 days a week!!) in
1984, by personal invitation of Brian Clough who personally rang him up one tea
time (as you do) to invite him to the City Ground for a chat. He joined the City
Ground Staff in October of that year, but continued to coach his Teversal boys until
the end of the season.
In the first twelve months at the City Ground he attained his FA Coaching Badges
achieving a UEFA B Licence, and was appointed by Mick Raynor at the beginning of
the 1985/86 season as Youth Team Coach and Manager of the Centre of Excellence Under
12’s. During the next nine seasons he did a variety of coaching jobs with various
age groups, and was recognised as a valid member of staff.
Over that period he experienced the highs and lows of the Football Club, joining
in with the celebrations, and the disappointment of relegation, followed by the
retirement of the Gaffer.
During the glory years Malc coached many good players, including Jermain Jenus (for
two years), Michael Dawson, Andy Dawson, Andy Reed, Andy Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips,
Bradley Wright-Phillips, Kristian Commons, Mark Goodfellow, Marlon Harwood and lots
more young men who went on to play semi - pro in local leagues. As well as this,
he scouted many more including Kristian Commons and James Perch, taking them into
the City Ground at Under 10's.
In 1993/94 he spent what he describes as a most enjoyable twelve months at Field
Mill, working with the Manager at that time, Steve Parkin, who went on to manage
Rochdale; Bob Shaw, the Chief Scout; and the Centre of Excellence Director, Dave
Bentley.
At the end of that season he took early retirement from his ‘day job’ as an Economic
Development Officer with Ashfield District Council and was approached by Coventry
City to join them on a three year contract at the Club’s Academy to form Development
Centre’s across the Country; thus allowing young footballers to gain professional
coaching but remain with their Clubs; while presenting them with the opportunity
to achieve Academy standard. This was all under the watchful eye of Club Manager
Gordon Strachen. Over the next three years he got to know the M1 & M69 quite well
as he journeyed those roads seven days a week. At the end of his contract at Coventry
City he moved to Leeds United to join up with his former boss at Nottingham Forest,
Alan Hill and his good friend Mick Raynor. Within a matter of a few days of moving
to Leeds United he was invited to join the new Manager at Leicester City, Peter
Taylor. The move to Leicester City proved to be his last in the professional game,
as two and a half years into working at the Club, Leicester City went into voluntary
administration, and most of the contracts of the staff working in the Youth Academy
were terminated.
In 1998 during his involvement with Coventry, and while still coaching at Quarrydale
he found himself working with a brilliant set of lads who wanted to form a team,
so he along with help from Elaine and Sam Slack formed the first Quarrydale team
at Under 12's, and registered them in the Chad Mansfield Youth League for their
first season as Quarrydale Colts FC. Over the years the boys won every honour they
could possibly have achieved in the League same as Malc's Teversal team that preceded
them, and they were also finalists in the Nottinghamshire Shield Challenge Trophy
at Under 13's and Under 14's, finally hanging their boots up at Under 18's.
It was in 2002, during his break with professional football that Elaine convinced
Malc to leave the pro game, develop the coaching school and focus on the local children
wishing to play regular football. Hence the McDonald’s/KicKStart Sunday Mini Soccer
League was born.
